United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism for development. Its work includes the assignment each year of over 8,000 skilled and experienced professionals with volunteer spirit to support a broad range of development programmes in some 140 countries around the world.  In Pakistan, the National UNV scheme has been publicly launched in February 2006, and so far total 13 international and 75 national UNV volunteers have been deployed for the earthquake relief and recovery.  As of 16 January 08, 4 international and 27 national UNV volunteers are serving in UN agencies, Government agencies and NGO.

A Story from UNV IT Officer Imtiaz Maqbool, Department of Education, Mansehra

Volunteering is not as popular as it should be in Pakistan, reason being that most of the people are not aware of the spirit of the volunteerism. I am in the field of IT for last 7 years but I had never thought of being an IT volunteer so it is a unique experience for me to be an IT Volunteer. I joined UNV Team in August 2007 and my duties were to serve at DEMIS (District Educational Management Information System) at Department of Education, Mansehra. More

A Story from UNV Community Services Officer for UNHCR Quetta
 28 March, 2007, Quetta - It was an unusual moment. I almost lost to myself feeling neither warm nor cold, nor fear nor fatigue disconnected with the self. Above all else, I knew deep down in me that my experience as the IUNV Community Services Officer for UNHCR Quetta, Balochistan, working in a difficult situation, has ensured me to be tested to the fullest extent possible, particularly being the Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) focal point in a highly sensitive culture.  Please click here to read a full story of Ms. Lynda Lim from Malaysia working in Balochistan.